The Roger Milliken Center, Spartanburg, S.C.-based MillikenandCompanys corporate headquarters, has
become the companys 46th VPP STAR Site. The designation is awarded by the U.S. Department of Labor
Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) Voluntary Protection Program (VPP) through the
S.C. Department of Labor, Licensing and Regulation, Palmetto VPP. The VPP program recognizes
companies that surpass normal safety requirements to meet and exceed OSHA standards. Since Milliken
began participating in the program in 1992, 45 of its manufacturing locations have been given the
VPP STAR Site designation.This is tremendous recognition, said Roger Milliken, chairman and CEO. It
is a tribute to every associate in our company, because every associate knows that they have
ownership of the safety process. [VPP] is not a management program.The VPP program has been
tremendously successful in helping our company establish an uncompromising safety and health
process, said Richard Dillard, director, public affairs, Milliken and Co. What better gift can you
give your associates and the community, than a safe working environmentMilliken has the most VPP
STAR sites of any company in South Carolina (28 of a total of 35) and also tops the list in every
other state where it operates, according to Wayne Punch, director, safety and health. It is second
nationwide only to International Paper.Janet Nixon, Palmetto STAR VPP coordinator, points to
Milliken when other companies complain that the VPP standards are set too high. [Millikens] record
speaks for itself, she said. They are one of our strongest advocates for the program.Remarking on
the attainment of VPP STAR Site status for the companys headquarters, Punch said, It has been quite
a challenge. This is our largest facility, and that just makes success that much sweeter.

November 2000

Texel Inc., a unit of technical nonwoven and composite materials company ADS, Canada, is planning a
large expansion of its nonwovens capacity.Texel will install state-of-the-art capacity to make as
much as 12,000 tons of advanced spunlaced nonwoven fabrics. Its technology will produce a variety
of differentiated spunlaced nonwovens. The company will be the only producer of spunlaced in
Canada.Simultaneously, Texel will invest to expand its technical needlepunched nonwovens capacity.

October 2000

Bayer Corp., Pittsburgh, Pa., and its wholly owned subsidiary, Project Toledo Acquisition Corp.,
have entered into a definitive agreement with Sybron Chemicals Inc., Birmingham, N.J., to acquire
all of Sybrons outstanding shares at $35 per share, payable in cash. Any shares not purchased in
the tender offer will be exchanged for cash in the amount of $35 per share in a merger of Sybron
and Project Toledo Acquisition Corp. The acquisition is subject to approvals from regulatory
authorities in the United States and in Europe as well as other customary conditions.This
acquisition will provide Bayers Coatings and Colorants Business Group (Polymers segment) and
Special Products Business Group (Chemicals segment) with access to new technologies and products
and will enable them to expand their market positions in the NAFTA region. “Sybron Chemicals Inc.
offers us an excellent opportunity to strategically augment and strengthen important business
sectors and thus continue to enhance the value of our business” said Dr. Manfred Schneider,
chairman, Bayer Management Board.

October 2000

Germany-based Lurgi Zimmer will supply the technology, equipment and complete engineering to build
a plant for the U.S. polyester producer TIEPET Inc., Asheboro, N.C. The two companies have signed
an agreement for a polyester plant designed to produce 65,000 tons per year of PET granulates,
based on Zimmers continuous polycondensation process. Lurgi Zimmer will also be responsible for
supervising the erection and commissioning of the plant, scheduled for start-up in June/July 2002.

October 2000

EcomTextile Inc, Fullerton, Calif., announced a strategic alliance with Atlanta-based eSASA.com.
The working agreement between the two companies will provide users with direct links between the
two sites. Visitors to eSASA.com can click on the EcomTextile.com link to arrive at the EcomTextile
site, allowing them to explore and and utilize its features to buy and sell their products.
Conversely, users of EcomTextile.com can select its machinery option to experience a transfer to
the textile equipment segment of eSASA.com.In addition to the links on their sites, eSASA.com and
EcomTextile are planning a number of joint efforts to introduce the services and functions provided
by each party to the global fibers, textiles and sewn products industry. This includes a presence
at upcoming trade shows, as well as joint sponsorship of industry events, conferences and
seminars.EcomTextile Inc. has also created an alliance with CIT Commercial Services, New York City.
Under the agreement, CIT will be a resource to provide factoring and financing services to
EcomTextile.com users.

October 2000